Beyond the Chemical Recycling of Polymethacrylates: Depolymerization of Polymethacrylamides

Abstract

Over the past years, depolymerization has become a focal point of polymer research aiming at improving chemical recycling of various polymer classes. Herein, we present the purely thermal depolymerization of polymethacrylamides made by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization at temperatures as low as 90 °C. By addition of a free radical initiator, a rapid depolymerization to high conversions was achieved, overcoming end-group degradation that previously led to lower yields. The developed methodology was subsequently applied to a crosslinked hydrogel, which could be effectively reverted back to its monomer, thus highlighting the versatility of our strategy.